In the bucolic paradise of Palawan, where azure waters kiss white sandy shores and tourists flock for a slice of heaven, there’s a less idyllic scene unfolding for the island’s freshly minted high school graduates. Imagine this: thousands of eager young minds ready to embark on their higher education journey, only to find themselves in a mad scramble for a measly few thousand college slots. Welcome to the 2024 Enrollment Hunger Games, where only the fittest—or the luckiest—survive.
No thanks to Republic Act No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act of 2017, Palawan SU and WPU are the only higher education institutions (HEIs) in Palawan that offer free tuition for their courses. Both open their doors to freshmen— albeit a small one and limited and had everyone elbow their way in.
And thanks to the budget cuts from the 2024 National Expenditure Program, both Palawan State University (Palawan SU) and Western Philippines University (WPU) are playing host to a spectacle of educational desperation. Picture this: 15,000 hopefuls jostling for 2,000 spots at Palawan SU. The odds, to borrow a phrase from The Hunger Games, are decidedly not in their favor.
Taking the entrance exam among the freshmen is filled with uncertainty and mixed emotions. The reaction is one with relief and disappointment as even those who scored high in the exams still get left in the dust.
You can almost hear the sarcastic cheer: “Congratulations, you made it! Now watch as your dreams are shattered along with those of your friends.”
Meanwhile, over at WPU, the situation is only marginally better. With an increased carrying capacity of 6,400 slots, it’s like adding a few extra lifeboats to the Titanic. Not exactly comforting when you’re still vastly outnumbered by icebergs of applicants. Dr. Amabel Liao, the new university president, has the unenviable task of managing this chaos. Her solution? A geographical strategy to match campuses with specialized programs. It sounds promising until you realize it’s just another way of saying, “Sorry, if you’re not into fish or farming, good luck.”
Provincial board member Ryan Maminta summed it up perfectly, noting the surprise of the regional director of the Commission on Higher Education at the sheer number of students versus the carrying capacity. “Where will the additional eight thousand, plus those currently enrolled, be accommodated?” he asked, rhetorically, of course. The answer is simple: they won’t be. The system is bursting at the seams, and it’s the students who are left out in the cold—or, in Palawan’s case, the sweltering heat.
The universities, however, have a plan. Palawan SU sent out surveys asking students if they could pay tuition fees if they didn’t make the quota. A nice touch, reminiscent of a used car salesman offering financing on a clunker. “Sure, you didn’t make it on merit, but how about we discuss your financial options?”
Those who did not make it to the cut are facing the same predicament whether to settle for less desirable courses at WPU. Business Administration, anyone? It’s like being promised a luxurious suite and ending up in a budget motel. But hey, at least it’s still education, right?
The drama doesn’t end there. Some students from Puerto Princesa recounted their experience with Palawan SU’s enrollment officers who, in an attempt to motivate, managed to belittle instead. “They told me my score was low because I was tired,” she said. Nothing like a bit of mockery to crush youthful aspirations. Her solution? Enroll in WPU, because apparently, it’s better to settle than to be subjected to ridicule.
On the flip side, there are a few optimistic voices like one student from Rizal. He advocates for applying everywhere and keeping options open. His strategy? Take exams at multiple universities and hope for the best. It’s a bit like playing the lottery, but with your future at stake. His one gripe? WPU’s lack of online results. “You won’t know if you passed unless you visit,” he said, presumably while refreshing his Facebook feed for the latest update.
As these young Palaweños navigate the labyrinthine process of enrollment, one can’t help but wonder if all this struggle is truly worth it. Yet, the pursuit of higher education remains a powerful equalizer, a beacon of hope for those dreaming of a better future. And perhaps, just perhaps, amidst the chaos and confusion, these students will find their way to success.
In the end, the alma mater might matter less than the grit and determination these students display in overcoming their enrollment woes. And who knows? Maybe this batch of freshmen will be the one to propel Palawan SU and WPU onto the global stage—if they ever make it past the admissions office.
with excerpts from Palawan News
